GALLERY: Woman (69) from Jackson’s informal settlement still has no ID

Anne Mohapi, a childless widow from Jackson’s informal settlement, is in dire need of an identity document (ID), which she been trying to get for the past 48 years.

The 69-year-old is struggling to make ends meet and having no family to support her makes matters even worse.

She said she sometimes goes to bed without any meal except a glass of water.

She claims that to end all her troubles she needs to get an ID so she is able to get grant money.

“I don’t earn any income. I survive by donations. I can’t get piece jobs because of my age.

“Getting an ID will open doors for me. It is really hard living like an animal, hoping for someone to throw food away to go there running,” said Mohapi.

Mohapi doesn’t want to die without an ID because she said her burial will be a disaster.

“I’m not in any burial schemes like other people my age, but if I got any form of income once a month I could have done something,” she said.

She stays in a one-room shack and has no electricity.

She said when it rains, the shack gets flooded and then it takes her about two days to clean up.

“After cleaning, my body gets tired and what’s worse, I still need to go out and find food,” she said.

“Please, can someone help me. If I can get a piece job or something it will be okay,” she pleaded.

Why now?

Mohapi said she has been getting barren results ever since she has been trying to get an ID.

“People may think I was lazy all along, but no, I really tried but no one wanted to help me. I hope now something might give because it is important for me to get an ID to survive,” said Mohapi.

Mohapi was told by Home Affairs that she needs to go back to Free State to apply for her ID.

The COURIER asked her about her family. She said her husband died several years ago due to an illness. She broke into tears and remained mum when asked about other members of her family.

The COURIER is still waiting for a response from Alberton Home Affairs.

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